Carinobolus gen. nov. and Costabolus gen. nov., two new, remarkably crested, monospecific genera of spirobolidan millipedes from West Africa, with the proposal of a new tribe, Amblybolini tribus nova (Diplopoda, Spirobolida, Pachybolidae).

Two new genera, Carinobolus gen. nov. and Costabolus gen. nov., both belonging to the very large, widespread, pantropical family Pachybolidae, are described based on Carinobolus complex sp. nov. and Costabolus baculus sp. nov., respectively. Chiefly based on the posterior gonopod being distinctly articulated at midlength, both new genera seem to be especially similar to Amblybolus Keeton, 1964a (three species in western Africa) and Atlanticobolus Hoffman, 1979 (one species from an island off the Brazilian coast), all of them meriting a separate tribal category, Amblybolini tribus nova. A key is proposed to distinguish all four presently accepted genera of the new tribe. The new genera and species are clearly distinguished in showing unusually strongly crested/ribbed metazonae, a character that is only very seldom observed in Pachybolidae generally, and apparently unique among Afrotropical members. Being rather similar in many respects, both new genera and species differ from each other sufficiently well in gonopodal and leg structure, even though both come from forests in southeastern Nigeria close to the border to Cameroon.

The millipede genus Pandirodesmus Silvestri, 1932 in Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean, with the description of P. jaggernauthi sp. nov. from Trinidad (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae, Pandirodesmini).

During several collecting surveys for terrestrial micro-molluscs across Trinidad and Tobago, millipedes of the genus Pandirodesmus were taken by MR on both islands. Samples of P. rutherfordi Shelley Smith, 2015, from Tobago, were recovered in addition to those containing a new species from Trinidad: Pandirodesmus jaggernauthi sp. nov. Additional records, illustrations, and descriptive notes are given for P. rutherfordi. A key is presented to all three species of the genus, and their distributions are mapped.

The millipede genus Globanus Attems, 1914, endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe, with the description of a new species (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida, Spirostreptidae).

During a soil zoological expedition to São Tomé and Príncipe in 2010 by the California Academy of Sciences, millipedes of the genus Globanus were collected. Samples of G. marginescaber (Karsch, 1884) and G. integer (Karsch, 1884) were recovered in addition to those containing a new species. Globanus drewesi sp. nov. is described and additional records, illustrations, and descriptive notes are given for the other two species. A key to all three species of the genus is provided, and a distribution map is presented. The monotypic genus Lobogonus Demange, 1971, which includes L. trilobatus Demange, 1971, from Sierra Leone, mainland western Africa, is revalidated and removed from synonymy under Globanus. Lobogonus is illustrated from a type specimen.

The millipede tribe Leptoiulini in the Caucasus, with notes on its generic classification (Diplopoda: Julida: Julidae).

The generic classification of the Palaearctic tribe Leptoiulini is revised, with 11 genera being recognized. The main differences between the genera, all presented in a tabular form, lie in the structure of the 2nd and 7th leg-pairs of the male, coupled with gonopodal conformations: the presence/absence and the degree of development of flagella on the promeres, and of the phylacum and velum on the opisthomeres. Based on abundant new material, only three genera and seven species of Leptoiulini, all keyed, mapped and properly illustrated, are shown to occur in the Caucasus: Chatoleptophyllum flexum Golovatch, 1979, Kubaniulus gracilis Lohmander, 1936, K. lativelatus sp. nov., Leptoiulus hastatus Lohmander, 1932 (= L. disparatus Lohmander, 1936, syn. n.), L. tanymorphus (Attems, 1901), L. meskhii sp. nov., and L. gonopodialis sp. nov. All species are endemic or subendemic to the region, while Kubaniulus Lohmander, 1936 represents the only genus in the tribe which is restricted to the Caucasus, in particular, the western and central parts of the Caucasus Major. The distributions are mainly allopatric, but a few pairs of species are para- or even sympatric.

A first phylogenetic analysis of Giant Pill-Millipedes (Diplopoda: Sphaerotheriida), a new model Gondwanan taxon, with special emphasis on island gigantism.

The phylogeny of the Giant Pill-Millipedes, order Sphaerotheriida, is investigated using a new morphological character matrix comprising 89 characters. The majority of these characters are employed for the first time in millipedes. All trees obtained agree on the monophyletic status of the Sphaerotheriida and several of its tribes, each restricted to a modern land mass. The species from Madagascar displaying island gigantism do not form a monophyletic group. The classic division of Giant Pill-Millipedes into two families, Sphaerotheriidae and Zephronidae, was not reflected in the analysis. The genus Procyliosoma is the sister-group to all other Sphaerotheriida, rendering the family Sphaerotheriidae paraphyletic. A new family-level classification of Giant Pill-Millipedes, based on the current phylogeny, is introduced. The new family Procyliosomatidae contains only the genus Procyliosoma, distributed in Australia and New Zealand. The family Zephronidae remains unchanged, while the family Sphaerotheriidae now incorporates only the African Giant Pill-Millipede genera. All genera from southern India and Madagascar form a monophyletic group and are placed in the new family Arthrosphaeridae. The Malagasy genus Sphaeromimus is more closely related to the Indian Arthrosphaera species than to other genera from Madagascar. A biogeographical analysis identifies the group as a Gondwana taxon (with a notable absence from South America). The current phylogeny of Giant Pill-Millipede families mirrors perfectly the suggested break-up of Gondwana fragments 160-90 Ma. No evidence for a dispersal event could be found, highlighting the importance of Giant Pill-Millipedes as a potential model taxon.

The sea cucumber Holothurialineata Ludwig, 1875 (Holothuroidea, Aspidochirotida, Holothuriidae) re-described from the newly found type.

A re-description of the little-known holothurian species Holothuria (Lessonothuria) lineata Ludwig, 1875 is given. It is based on the single recovered type specimen and an individual recently collected on Glorioso Islands, near Madagascar. A key to separate three closely related and commonly confused species, i.e., Holothuria (Lessonothuria) pardalis Selenka, 1867, Holothuria (Lessenothuria) verrucosa Selenka, 1867 and Holothuria (Lessonothuria) insignis Ludwig, 1875, is presented.

Trichopolydesmidae from Cameroon, 2: A species-level reclassification of Afrotropical trichopolydesmids (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), with two new species and two new records from Cameroon, and two new species from the Nimba Mountains, Guinea.

A revised classification of Afrotropical Trichopolydesmidae is presented. The fauna presently contains as many as 52 species in six recognized genera, with numerous new transfers/combinations involved: Bactrodesmus Cook, 1896 (3 species, including B. grandis sp. nov. from the Nimba Mountains, Guinea), Eburodesmus Schubart, 1955 (2 species), Hemisphaeroparia Schubart, 1955 (26 species, including one old species, Polydesmus parvulus Porat, 1894, revised from type material and provisionally assigned to Hemisphaeroparia, as well as two new records and two new species from Cameroon: H. longibrachiata sp. nov. and H. avis sp. nov.), Mecistoparia Brolemann, 1926 (3 species), Physetoparia Brolemann, 1920 (12 species, including P. complexa sp. nov. from the Nimba Mountains, Guinea), and Sphaeroparia Attems, 1909 (6 species). The hitherto enigmatic genus Bactrodesmus is redefined, but the monotypic Trichozonus Carl, 1905 still remains dubious.

The millipede genus Stemmiulus Gervais, 1844 in Cameroon, with descriptions of three new species (Diplopoda, Stemmiulida, Stemmiulidae).

The large pantropical millipede genus Stemmiulus, which currently encompasses more than 150 species, i.e. the bulk of the species diversity of the family Stemmiulidae and entire order Stemmiulida, is shown to comprise seven species in Cameroon, including three new ones: S. ongot Nzoko Fiemapong & VandenSpiegel, sp. n., S. uncus Nzoko Fiemapong & VandenSpiegel, sp. n., and S. mbalmayoensis Nzoko Fiemapong & VandenSpiegel, sp. n. In addition, S. beroni Mauriès, 1989, previously known only from the type locality in Nigeria, is recorded from Cameroon for the first time, also being redescribed based on new samples. A key is given to all species of the genus encountered in the country, based on male gonopodal conformation, except for S. camerunensis (Silvestri, 1916), which was described only from female and juvenile material.

Sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the Northern Mozambique Channel with description of six new species.

The 2009 expedition with the research vessel Miriky sampled the sublittoral and bathyal waters of the northern Mozambique Channel. This exploration campaign resulted in a small, but very diverse collection of holothuroids comprising 174 specimens representing 31 species, 18 genera, 10 families and 5 orders. Of these species, many were hitherto unknown for Madagascar or even for the Indian Ocean, and six, Bathyplotes aymeric sp. nov., Holothuria (Cystipus) yann sp. nov., Holothuria (Stauropora) bo sp. nov., Holothuria (Metriatyla) alex sp. nov., Holothuria (Theelothuria) cyrielle sp.nov., Molpadia thandari sp. nov., are new to science. Molpadia lenticulum (Cherbonnier & Féral, 1981) is a new combination. This contribution provides an illustrated and annotated overview of the poorly known, highly biodiverse, sublittoral and bathyal sea cucumber fauna of the northern Mozambique Channel. Our findings demonstrate how ignorant we are about the poorly explored habitats of our planet and therefore stress the urgent need for more explorations to such regions.

Review of the western African millipede genus Diaphorodesmus Silvestri, 1896 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Chelodesmidae), with the description of a similar, but new monotypic genus from Cameroon.

The genus Diaphorodesmus is revised and shown to comprise only a single species, Diaphorodesmus dorsicornis (Porat, 1894) by priority, with the only other formal congener, Diaphorodesmus attemsii Verhoeff, 1938, considered as its junior subjective synonym, syn. n. A new monotypic genus, Diaphorodesmoides gen. n., is created to include Diaphorodesmoides lamottei sp. n., from southwestern Cameroon. Both these genera seem to be especially similar in sharing remarkable dorsal horns on metaterga 2-4, a unique synapomorphy in the basically Afrotropical subfamily Prepodesminae, family Chelodesmidae, to which they belong. In contrast to Diaphorodesmus which shows two, increasingly short, paramedian horns on each of metaterga 2-4, the ozopores borne on distinct porosteles, and the gonopod prefemoral process and solenophore less strongly elaborate, Diaphorodesmoides gen. n. has a single, increasingly large, central horn on each of metaterga 2-4, the ozopores opening flush dorsolaterally on the surface of poriferous paraterga, and both the gonopod prefemoral process and solenophore especially complex. The genus Campodesmoides VandenSpiegel, Golovatch & Nzoko Fiemapong, 2015, and its sole, and type, species Campodesmoides corniger VandenSpiegel, Golovatch & Nzoko Fiemapong, 2015, are transferred from Campodesmidae to Chelodesmidae and formally synonymized with Diaphorodesmus and Diaphorodesmus dorsicornis, both syn. n.

Revealing Invisible Beauty, Ultra Detailed: The Influence of Low Cost UV Exposure on Natural History Specimens in 2D+ Digitization.

Digitization of the natural history specimens usually occurs by taking detailed pictures from different sides or producing 3D models. Additionally this is normally limited to imaging the specimen while exposed by light of the visual spectrum. However many specimens can see in or react to other spectra as well. Fluorescence is a well known reaction to the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum by animals, plants, minerals etc. but rarely taken into account while examining natural history specimens. Our tests show that museum specimens still fluoresce when exposed to UV light of 395 nm and 365 nm, even after many years of preservation. When the UV exposure is used in the digitization of specimens using our low cost focus stacking (2D+) setup, the resulting pictures reveal more detail than the conventional 2D+ images. Differences in fluorescence using 395 nm or 365 nm UV lights were noticed, however there isn't a preferred wavelength as some specimens react more to the first, while others have better results with the latter exposure. Given the increased detail and the low cost of the system, UV exposure should be considered while digitizing natural history museum collections.

A new millipede of the family Ammodesmidae found in central Africa (Diplopoda, Polydesmida).

The first species of the small Afrotropical family Ammodesmidae discovered in central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) belongs to the genus Ammodesmus Cook, 1896, which was hitherto known only from two species in western Africa. A key is given to incorporate Ammodesmuscongoensis sp. n., a species also showing an evident sex dimorphism: ♂ densely hirsute, ♀ with much longer and sparser tergal setae.

New taeniogyrinid species of sea cucumber from the Weddell Sea (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Synaptida).

The case put by Alexei Smirnov in 2012 is accepted and the order name Synaptida Cuénot is adopted in place of Apodida Brandt. Two new Synaptida species are described for the Weddell Sea in Antarctica with single author O'Loughlin: Sigmodota magdarogera sp. nov. and Taeniogyrus bamberi sp. nov.. A specimen of Sigmodota magnibacula (Massin & Hétérier) is described. A key is provided for the genera and species of Taeniogyrinae that occur south of the Antarctic Convergence.

Review of the millipede genus Eutrichodesmus Silvestri, 1910, in China, with descriptions of new cavernicolous species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Haplodesmidae).

The Eutrichodesmus fauna of mainland China, by far the largest genus in the Indo-Australian family Haplodesmidae, is reviewed and shown to encompass 23 species (of a total of 45), all keyed. The following nine new species, all presumed troglobites, are described: Eutrichodesmustriangularis sp. n., from Sichuan, Eutrichodesmuslipsae sp. n., from Guangxi, Eutrichodesmustenuis sp. n., Eutrichodesmustrontelji sp. n., Eutrichodesmuslatellai sp. n., Eutrichodesmusobliteratus sp. n. and Eutrichodesmustroglobius sp. n., all from Guizhou, Eutrichodesmussketi sp. n., from Hunan, and Eutrichodesmusapicalis sp. n., from Hubei.

Koponenius gen. nov., a new genus of the millipede family Haplodesmidae from the Himalayas of India and Nepal (Diplopoda: Polydesmida).

The first, apparently westernmost indigenous representatives of Haplodesmidae are reported, from the Himalayas of Nepal and India. Both new species belong to a new genus, Koponenius gen. nov., with K. unicornis sp. nov., the type species from Darjeeling District, NE India, and K. biramus sp. nov., from Nepal. The new genus is superficially very similar to Prosopodesmus Silvestri, 1910, most species of which seem to be native to tropical Australia, partly also to southern Japan. However, Koponenius gen. nov. is easily distinguished in showing only 19 body segments, a special ozopore formula (5, 7-18), 4 transverse rows of setigerous isostictic tubercles per postcollum metatergum, and a clearly helicoid, twisted prefemoral portion of the gonopod so that the seminal groove runs mostly laterally, not mesally. 

The millipede genus Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910 in Kenya, with descriptions of new species (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae).

The genus Eviulisoma, the largest among Afrotropical Paradoxosomatidae, currently encompasses 36 species or subspecies, including six new from Kenya: Eviulisomangaia sp. n., Eviulisomangaiaorum sp. n., Eviulisomataitaorum sp. n., Eviulisomataita sp. n., Eviulisomakirimeri sp. n. and Eviulisomakakamega sp. n. In addition, Eviulisomaalluaudi Brolemann, 1920 and Eviulisomasilvestre (Carl, 1909) are recorded for the first time beyond their type localities in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively, based on new material from Kenya. A key is given to all ten species of the genus presently reported from Kenya.

Review of the millipede family Trichopolydesmidae in the Oriental realm (Diplopoda, Polydesmida), with descriptions of new genera and species.

In the Oriental Region, the large, basically Northern Hemisphere family Trichopolydesmidae is shown to currently comprise 18 genera and 43 species. Based mainly on gonopod structure, all of them, as well as the whole family, are (re)diagnosed, including five new genera and seven new species. These new taxa are keyed, also being the first to be described from Indochina in general and from Vietnam in particular: Aporodesmella gen. n., with three species: A. securiformis sp. n. (the type species), A. similis sp. n. and A. tergalis sp. n., as well as the following four monotypic genera: Deharvengius gen. n., with D. bedosae sp. n., Gonatodesmus gen. n., with G. communicans sp. n., Helicodesmus gen. n., with H. anichkini sp. n., and Monstrodesmus gen. n., with M. flagellifer sp. n. In addition, Cocacolaria hauseri Hoffman, 1987, hitherto known only from New Ireland Island, Papua New Guinea, is redescribed based on material from Vanuatu whence it is recorded for the first time. One of the new genera, Gonatodesmus gen. n., provides a kind of transition or evolutionary bridge between Trichopolydesmidae and Opisotretidae, thus reinforcing the assignment of these two families to the single superfamily Trichopolydesmoidea.

Focus stacking: Comparing commercial top-end set-ups with a semi-automatic low budget approach. A possible solution for mass digitization of type specimens.

In this manuscript we present a focus stacking system, composed of commercial photographic equipment. The system is inexpensive compared to high-end commercial focus stacking solutions. We tested this system and compared the results with several different software packages (CombineZP, Auto-Montage, Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker). We tested our final stacked picture with a picture obtained from two high-end focus stacking solutions: a Leica MZ16A with DFC500 and a Leica Z6APO with DFC290. Zerene Stacker and Helicon Focus both provided satisfactory results. However, Zerene Stacker gives the user more possibilities in terms of control of the software, batch processing and retouching. The outcome of the test on high-end solutions demonstrates that our approach performs better in several ways. The resolution of the tested extended focus pictures is much higher than those from the Leica systems. The flash lighting inside the Ikea closet creates an evenly illuminated picture, without struggling with filters, diffusers, etc. The largest benefit is the price of the set-up which is approximately € 3,000, which is 8 and 10 times less than the LeicaZ6APO and LeicaMZ16A set-up respectively. Overall, this enables institutions to purchase multiple solutions or to start digitising the type collection on a large scale even with a small budget.

The millipede family Ammodesmidae (Diplopoda, Polydesmida) in western Africa.

Ammodesmidae are represented in western Africa by two species of a single genus, Ammodesmus Cook, 1896 (= Cenchrodesmus Cook, 1896, syn. n.). The type-species Ammodesmus granum Cook, 1896 (= Cenchrodesmus volutus Cook, 1896, syn. n.) is redescribed, based on neotype selection, as well as on additional samples, often containing numerous specimens, from Liberia, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. A new species is described from Mount Nimba, Guinea: Ammodesmus nimbasp. n.